Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Friends of the Smokies license tags available again

North Carolina motorists can once again show their support for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park with a license tag featuring the familiar black bear.

“We’re excited that the bear is back,” said Holly Demuth, North Carolina director of Friends of the Smokies.

New sales of the popular Friends of the Smokies specialty plate were suspended last October after supplies of the old design ran out.

The General Assembly approved legislation that required the specialty plate to be redesigned once supplies ran out to make it easier to read the numbers and letters.

The goal is to make sure law enforcement officers and cameras on toll roads can read the letters and numbers, according to Steve Abbott, communications officer with the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The new Smokies’ design keeps the bear and the green mountains but adds a white background behind the letters and numbers to make them easier to read.

“People can still have their green mountains and their bear on their plates. We hope people will continue to purchase plates and support the park,” Demuth said.